Hydrodynamics of Packed Bed Apparatus

The set up is capable to study the loading and flooding characteristics. It is a packed column packed with Rasching Rings where the Air is counter currently fed to the column. Liquid holdup in the column increases the weight of column and also reduces the effective porosity of packing. This reduction in porosity decreases the gas velocity, increases the pressure drop and changes the value of mass transfer co-efficient. The water is fed from the top of the column and loading & flooding characteristic are observed on various flow rates of Air and Water. The apparatus is closed circuit type provided with suitable capacity tank, pump, necessary pipe lines walls & rotametres for water & air to measure the flow rate of fluids.